In the name of God Amen I William
Harris of the parish of Lanvair Kilgedin in the County of Monmouth yeoman,
being weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding,
praised be God for the same, do make and declare this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I Give and devise all my messuages or
tenements lands hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances, situate
lying and being in the parishes of Lanvair Kilgedin, Goytre or elsewhere in the
said County of Monmouth, unto my wife Martha Harris and her assigns, for
and during the term of her natural life (but subject to, and charged, and
chargeable with, the annuity, yearly rent, or sum of five pounds hereinafter
mentioned) and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife Martha
Harris I give and devise the same and every part thereof unto and between
my two nephews William Morgan of the parish of Mamhilad yeoman, and John
Morgan of the Town of Pontypool, forgeman and their heirs and assigns for
ever, as Tenants in Common and not as joint tenants but subject nevertheless to
the said annuity or yearly rent charge of five pounds, and the several sums
hereinafter intended to be charged upon the same premises. I give devise and bequeath unto my sister Mary
Morgan of Pontypool aforesaid widow and her assigns for and during the term
of her natural life one annuity or clear yearly rent or sum of five pounds of
lawful money of Great Britain (free from all deductions) to be issuing and
payable out of the said messuages lands and hereditaments and to be paid and
payable by half yearly payments (that is to say at or upon the feast says of
Saint John the Baptist and the birth of our Lord Christ, the first payment
thereof to be on such of the same feast days as shall first and next happen
after my decease and I do hereby expressly charge and make chargeable the said
premises with the payment of the same, and my will is that upon non payment of
the same, or any part thereof on the days and times hereinafter appointed for
payment thereof, or within twenty days after, that then or in such case it
shall and may be lawful to and for the said Mary Morgan or her assigns
to enter upon the said premises charged with the said annuity as aforesaid and
distrain for the same or for so much thereof as shall be so in arrear, and such
distress or distresses to keep and detain until she shall be fully paid and
satisfied all such arrearages with the costs and charges in and about keeping
the same. I give and bequeath unto my
niece Ann Morgan of Mamhilad aforesaid spinster the sum of twenty pounds
to be paid by my said nephews William Morgan or John John Morgan
or their heirs or assigns within six months after they become possessed of the
said premises and which I hereby make chargeable with the payment of the
same. I likewise give and bequeath unto
my niece Mary Morgan of Caerleon the sum of ten pounds to be also paid
by my said nephews within six months after they become possessed of the said
premises and which I also hereby make chargeable with the payment of the
same. I give and bequeath unto my said
sister Mary the sum of twenty pounds to be paid her within six months
next after my decease out of my personal estate. I give and bequeath unto Oliver Jenkins of the parish of
Goytre the sum of five pounds to be also paid within six months next after my
decease out of my personal estate. I
give and bequeath unto Philip Jenkins son of John Jenkins of
Goytre the sum of five pounds to be also paid within six months next after the
decease of my wife Martha out of my personal estate and my will is that
in case any or either of the above named legatees shall happen to die before
his or her legacy becomes payable as aforesaid that then and in such case the
legacy of him or her so dying shall go for the benefit of the persons who shall
be entitled to the real or personal upon which the same is respectively charged
as aforesaid. All the rest and residue
of my personal estate I give and bequeath unto my wife Martha Harris,
and do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said wife sole executrix of
this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me heretofore
made, and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have at the bottom of
the first sheet of this my Will (the whole whereof is contained in two sheets
of paper) subscribed my name, and to this second my hand and seal the sixth day
of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. Wm Harries
Signed sealed
declared and published by the above named William Harris as and for his
last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his
presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Wm Morgan of Mamhilad; Wm Richards, Kemeys; Alex Jones, Attorney, Usk.
April 29th
1800 Martha Harris widow and relict of the said deceased executrix named in the
forgoing Will was sworn to the truth thereof & to the faithfull performance
of the same & that the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased do
not amount in value to the sum of six hundred pounds, before me Benj Hall,
Surrogate
Proved at
Abergavenny on the 29th day of June 1800 before the Chancellor on
the oath of Martha Harris widow and relict of the said deceased
executrix named in the forgoing Will
NOTE: All references are to “Harris” but the
testator clearly signs himself as “Harries”.
DW
NOTE:
In this Will it states that the nephew is “John John Morgan” – an error
but this is as per the document. DW
NOTE: There appears to be two dates for proving
this Will – 29 April 1800 & 29 June 1800.
The date on the cover of the Will is 29 April 1800. DW
Transcribed from
a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South
Wales. NP20 6LB Tel
01633 858 359 12 February 2003